Sanctions against Russia became a condition for Serbia's accession to the EU, Vucic said
Quick Look
Former Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said that the introduction of sanctions against Russia was a condition for Serbia at the stage of negotiations on EU membership even before joining the organization, and that Belgrade does not plan to introduce such sanctions, seeking to maintain traditional friendly relations with the Russian Federation despite pressure from neighboring NATO members.
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Why It Matters
Serbia is negotiating EU membership, which is divided into clusters of chapters. Official Belgrade previously expressed hope for the opening of a third cluster of negotiations in 2025, but this did not happen due to Serbia’s position on sanctions against Russia.
The introduction of sanctions against the Russian Federation became a condition at the stage of negotiations on Serbia’s membership in the EU even before joining the organization, said former Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic.
The former Serbian president, speaking on the RT Balkan television channel, recalled that his associates expected the EU to open the next cluster of the negotiation platform for Serbia on joining the union at the end of 2025, but he warned them that this would not happen due to the refusal to support sanctions against the Russian Federation.
“I know that we will not be accepted soon, for me it is much more important to have access to the single European market, the free movement of people, goods, capital and services... But they set a condition, in Chapter 31, for full coordination with the EU’s foreign policy already at this stage. The introduction of sanctions against the Russian Federation became a prerequisite for the single market and open borders even before gaining membership. And I tried and am trying not to impose sanctions,” said the former Serbian president and added that it is rational for Serbia stay on the European path.
According to him, official Belgrade cherishes its traditional friendly relations and is not ashamed of them.
“I am happy that people in the Kremlin understand Serbia’s position much better than many others in Russia... We are in Europe, we are under enormous pressure, as the only non-NATO country, the only essentially military-neutral country, Austria cannot be considered such. We are completely surrounded by those who are or want to become members, including politicians in Sarajevo, and North Macedonia, Croatia, Montenegro, Romania and Bulgaria are NATO members,” Vucic emphasized.
Official Belgrade previously expressed the hope that in 2025 Brussels would open cluster number 3 (there are eight in total, consisting of several chapters) of the negotiating platform on Serbia’s accession to the EU, which includes chapters on media, tax policy, social policy, entrepreneurship, education and culture, but this has not yet happened.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
The EU will not open the next cluster of Serbian membership talks in the coming months due to its position on sanctions against Russia
Likely · Within months
Open Questions
- When does the EU plan to resume the negotiation process with Serbia?
- What concrete steps is Serbia ready to take to advance negotiations on EU membership?
- How will Serbia's position on sanctions against Russia affect its relations with individual NATO member countries in the region?
